Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[hotmitts]

Hey that Thorn does really sound good,how would I get a discount voucher ? Or do you have to have bought X amount of plug-ins ?

Use this voucher: https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/customer-survey.html

Ahh, Brillsville ! Thank you kindly Mr Enigma

[Vleker]

Dangit, had to get Thorn for $15 Any good preset packs available as well?

[masterhiggins]

Damn. Can’t wait to snatch up PPG Infinite Pro for $15 in a couple years.

[LoveEnigma18]

^ Lol

Does anyone find PA Black Box Analog Design HG-2 good? I downloaded its demo yesterday along with the demo of other plugins I mentioned, and to my surprise, I only really liked HG-2. Really beefy sound if my ears judged it right at midnight. I already have the Soundtoys stuff, but I think this might be a good addition. To some extent I did like the Masterdesk too, but I need to explore Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain first to see if I really need it. I did like bx_saturator V2 last time I demoed it, so, I just need to decide between bx_saturator V2 and HG-2.

Any opinions?

[imrae]

HG-2 is generally very well-regarded.

Personally I demoed it (and VSM-3) during the $29 sale and found the level-matching workflow difficult. It was much easier to create controlled low-end saturation with Reelbus without being fooled by loudness. So I bought Spectre instead.

[Holon Mundi]

Does anyone find PA Black Box Analog Design HG-2 good?

I haven't tried it but here is an experienced opinionator:

[Uncle E]

If you've never watched his videos before, take it with a grain of salt because he hates almost everything he reviews. He craps on plugins that experienced engineers use successfully every day.

[madhadder68]

Does anyone find PA Black Box Analog Design HG-2 good?

I haven't tried it but here is an experienced opinionator:
<span class="skimlinks-unlinked">https: ... -k</span>

After watching this mixdown, I use it on almost every mix

[Insanelysane]

HG-2 is generally very well-regarded.

Personally I demoed it (and VSM-3) during the $29 sale and found the level-matching workflow difficult. It was much easier to create controlled low-end saturation with Reelbus without being fooled by loudness. So I bought Spectre instead.

I found the level matching the reason I stopped using it. Boosts plenty but no context to really work it in the mix without causing too much of something else. The knobs arent fine enough, so the volume control on processing just leaves issues, for me.

Saturator on the other hand does have better control and blending the mix elements.

Just consider whether you 'need' these. TG Mastering was great in some ways but I found it overly finicky too with knob adjustments, you really need to know how you are listening to it m. Only do processing if you feel it needs it rather than because the button/knob is there.

[Holon Mundi]

If you've never watched his videos before, take it with a grain of salt because he hates almost everything he reviews. He craps on plugins that experienced engineers use successfully every day.

Good advice. I have take rock salt with my table salt and it's refreshing. He leaves out a lot but he also highlight some things that fit his perspective and many times I feel the same. He sometimes corrects himself in later videos and sometimes not so demo everything yourself.

[Gamma-UT]

If you've never watched his videos before, take it with a grain of salt because he hates almost everything he reviews. He craps on plugins that experienced engineers use successfully every day.

I found one video was enough. It's weird how he seems to think videos like this improve his image as a mixing expert when he sods about with the output knob apparently not realising that level matching and switching the plugin in and out using a bypass once you've got it level-matched is a pretty standard procedure. The reality is even with two-handed control you're not going to level-match instantly as the gain you get off the saturation depends on what's going in.

And if it doesn't have a decent gain control, just slap a DAW utility plugin on the channel. It's not rocket science.

[LoveEnigma18]

HG-2 is generally very well-regarded.

Personally I demoed it (and VSM-3) during the $29 sale and found the level-matching workflow difficult. It was much easier to create controlled low-end saturation with Reelbus without being fooled by loudness. So I bought Spectre instead.

Thank you for the suggestion. Yes, level-matching indeed seems difficult.

@Holon Mundi Thanks for sharing the link, but I don't like his videos tbh.

If you've never watched his videos before, take it with a grain of salt because he hates almost everything he reviews. He craps on plugins that experienced engineers use successfully every day.

I found one video was enough.

Exactly. I remember watching a video of his in the past, and it was an instant piss-off for me. Since then, I never watched his videos, up until the one above. But having read imrae's point above, I understood the negative should be about level-matching and that helped me to quickly close the video.

[LoveEnigma18]

Saturator on the other hand does have better control and blending the mix elements.

You mean bx_saturator V2 , right?

Just consider whether you 'need' these. Only do processing if you feel it needs it rather than because the button/knob is there.

I agree. These days I am questioning myself a lot on that before buying anything. I think I have moved away from impulse buying, for good. I might just buy one plugin if I am really happy with it after demoing.

[Insanelysane]

Saturator on the other hand does have better control and blending the mix elements.

You mean bx_saturator V2 , right?

Just consider whether you 'need' these. Only do processing if you feel it needs it rather than because the button/knob is there.

I agree. These days I am questioning myself a lot on that before buying anything. I think I have moved away from impulse buying, for good. I might just buy one plugin if I am really happy with it after demoing.

Yes bx_saturator V2. Just wondering what you are looking at using these specific plugins for versus what you already have in that camp? Interestingly, being a bargain hunter I always am drawn to a sale and the prospect of gain I feel about a great deal and the worth I got it for - but sometimes I'll pay say $40 for something reduced from $100 when another plugin at $25 would've been better, not on sale. Have you looked at Contemporary Color as a saturator/color option? its permanently at $29 even though at release it promised to be an intro price with a higher pricetag of $89 (that never seemed to happen, frustrating in some way for early adopters, but a good plugin used a lot here)
https://endeavorfx.com/contemporary-color.html

[LoveEnigma18]

Saturator on the other hand does have better control and blending the mix elements.

You mean bx_saturator V2 , right?

Just consider whether you 'need' these. Only do processing if you feel it needs it rather than because the button/knob is there.

I agree. These days I am questioning myself a lot on that before buying anything. I think I have moved away from impulse buying, for good. I might just buy one plugin if I am really happy with it after demoing.

Yes bx_saturator V2. Just wondering what you are looking at using these specific plugins for versus what you already have in that camp? Interestingly, being a bargain hunter I always am drawn to a sale and the prospect of gain I feel about a great deal and the worth I got it for - but sometimes I'll pay say $40 for something reduced from $100 when another plugin at $25 would've been better, not on sale. Have you looked at Contemporary Color as a saturator/color option? its permanently at $29 even though at release it promised to be an intro price with a higher pricetag of $89 (that never seemed to happen, frustrating in some way for early adopters, but a good plugin used a lot here)
https://endeavorfx.com/contemporary-color.html

I am in the exact same boat to be honest. I don't really "need" any of these plugins. Being suckered to even "think" over these deals is actually bad and a time waste. That's the next improvement I need.

Thanks for the suggestion. Never heard of Contemporary Color. The GUI does not look that good, but looks like an interesting plugin. I will check it out since you have praised it. But I will resist buying it, or anything for that matter.